Monday, May 25, 2009

In case you think you've seen everything....

...you haven't. Unless you've watched this video of a man playing his banjo during his Deep Brain Stimulation surgery. Sadly, he was not cured of his banjo habit. There was also a tense moment when a nurse and the anesthesiologist absentmindedly began clog dancing while the surgeon chanted
"Swing your partner, Doe-si-doe! To the brain's deep part we go! It's not far, no country mile, drill that burr-hole mountain style!"
Disaster was averted when they found the patient could not perform a Buck-and Wing, and everyone was brought back to their senses.

I looked into this extensively, and can reassure everyone that playing the banjo has not been added to the battery of tests that a surgical candidate must perform to qualify for DBS. In fact, most teams prefer something soothing, and would appreciate it if patients could render a little light jazz on the pan pipes. Also on the approved list: Bassoons, dulcimers, Irish harps and ocarinas. Needless to say Theramins are forbidden in most operating rooms.

Must run. I need to work on my rendition of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" arranged for pan pipes.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

If I'm not mistaken, Pete, that's you doing the surgery there--at the end of the video. Sounds like you. Looks like you. Are you drawing on his brain?
margalo

Peter Dunlap-Shohl said...

Flash Molass performs brain surgery? "OK, now Mr. Brain, hold reeeal, still..."

I think not!

FM